Page 35 of Forever

CHAPTER 13

ANABEL

“How are you holding up?”

I look at Sienna on the screen of my phone. We’ve been doing video calls ever since I left the Sates. Usually, this is not something I do with my friends or family here, but I have to admit I kind of got used to it. It was easier that way, and I miss her ugly mug.

Okay, not ugly at all.

Pregnancy looks good on her. She’s always so radiant, so bright. There was no rough few months for her. She never complained about morning sickness or lack of appetite. And the baby bump makes her look even more gorgeous than before.

Since the last time we talked, Sienna cut her hair. Said it was getting in the way. Now the honey strands touch her shoulders. Golden color brightens her naturally brown hair and it looks so good on her signature, wavy styled hair.

“Okay, I guess.”

“You know he would have stayed if he could, right?”

“I know, Si. I don’t blame him. I blame life, but that doesn’t make it easier.”

All of the above is truth. I don’t blame William. I know we can’t avoid real life forever. I know it’s messy and gets in the way. I know even once we get married and I move to the States, it won’t be easy. With his job, it’ll never be easy. He’ll always be on the road and I’ll be left behind, but at least then there won’t be ocean between us, six time zones (at least), and we won’t be on two different continents.

“I admire you, you know. I don’t think I would be able to let J.D. go that far away. The football season is hard as it is.”

“You’ve just grown soft since you two got married,” I tease her.

The married life looks good on her too. She smiles more. She’s happier than before. There is no weight on her shoulders or darkness creeping behind those radiant amber eyes.

“I didn’t grow soft!” she protests. “I’ve just …”

“Become homier. More maternal …”

One corner of her lips lifts in a half-smile. Her cellphone-free hand that is supported on her stomach starts slowly caressing the bump.

“I guess you’re right.”

“Of course I am. In no time you’ll even start to cook!”

“Don’t you even joke about that! I like our house just fine. There is no need to burn it to the ground.”

That makes us both laugh.

After the incident at her wedding, and Sienna getting cold feet because she was convinced J.D. isn’t aware of the lack of her cooking skills and that would be a deal breaker, I couldn’t stop teasing her every chance I got.

“Yeah, better not. Leave all the cooking to Mrs. Tayson and you take care of the little guy in there.”

“Can you believe this little guy will be here in no time? What do I even know about little boys? What if I do something wrong?”

Her sudden panic makes me chuckle. Sienna can be such a drama queen sometimes.

“You’ll do just fine, Si. You’re amazing with kids.”

Which is completely true. She has two nieces, Ivy and Bell, and she’s already like a mother to Grace. Technically, Grace is J.D.’s little sister, which would make her Sienna’s sister-in-law. But because of the big age difference between the two siblings, J.D. and Sienna are more like parents to her. Sienna even recently adopted her.

“Not with little boys. I’ve never been around little boys.”

“You’ll learn. And you have J.D.; I think he has some idea on what little boys like to do.”

Sienna snorts. “If I leave it to J.D. our baby boy will be up to no good before he starts to walk!”

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